We've discussed the old soak beans for 24-hours trick to...alleviate excess gas, but if you don't have a whole day to wait before you start cooking your bean dish, this method from the folks at Bon Appetit magazine can save you a ton of time and waiting. Just put your beans in a pot, cover with water, bring them to a boil and keep them there for two minutes, and set aside.

Most people soak dried beans for a while to soften them up before cooking them, but over at The…
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This "power soak" method, as they call it, is essentially just pre-boiling, and once you've finished the two-minute boil, you let the beans stand for about one hour. In that time, some of the more complex sugars that may...contribute to gastrointestinal distress after eating, dissolve in the water, which is then discarded prior to cooking the beans. After the hour's rest, your beans will be ready to use in any recipe, as though it had been soaking for hours.

Have you tried this "power soak" pre-boiling method before, or do you have a different preferred method? Share your tips in the comments below.